2012's Top 9 World Leaders

IMF managing director Christine Lagarde answers questions at a press conference during the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in Tokyo on Oct. 11, 2012.
- [Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty Images]

Obama 2012 speech

US President Barack Obama speaks about the economy at the Daimler Detroit Diesel engine plant December 10, 2012 in Redford, Michigan. The President and Congress have not yet come to an agreement regarding how to extend the Bush-era tax cuts, which expire at the end of this year
- [Bill Pugliano/AFP/Getty Images]

20121008 imran khan drones protest

Pakistani politician Imran Khan addresses a peace rally in Tank on October 7, 2012. Khan and his followers were stopped from entering Pakistan's tribal region after they bypassed road blocks to press towards the region to protest against US drone strikes.
- [A Majeed/AFP/Getty Images]

texts from hillary 2012 4 10

Clinton delivers a statement on Burma at the State Department on April 4.
- [JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images]

Clone of North korea kim jong un succession 2011 12 19

North Korean defectors hold defaced posters of North Korea leader Kim Jong Il and his son Kim Jong Un as they participate in an anti-North Korea protest in front of the South Korean Defense Ministry on Nov. 29, 2010 in Seoul.
- [Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images]

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Pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi addresses hundreds of anxious Burmese supporters from the main gate of her family compound in Rangoon on July 14, 1995.
- [Manuel Ceneta/AFP/Getty Images]

Venezulan President Hugo Chavez has denied allegations that Venezuela's Consul General in Miami was involved in planning cyber attacks against the US.
- [Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images]

Bashar al assad constitutional referendum

A picture of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad hangs on a wall over the reception of al-Pasha hotel in Damascus on February 15, 2012. Assad has decreed to hold a referendum for a new constitution on February 26, the official SANA state news agency reported on Wednesday. AFP PHOTO/PATRICK BAZ
- [Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty Images]